HOT blooded
Hockey tournaments often unfold under punishing heat — from midday matches in Malaysia to summer fixtures in Australia and South Africa. While players adapt physically, the cognitive and tactical toll of heat stress remains under-addressed. For Masters athletes, who face age-related shifts in thermoregulation and recovery, the stakes are even higher. Let’s explore how heat stress impairs performance and decision-making in hockey, and how targeted preparation and recovery protocols — drawn from both hockey-specific and broader exercise science — can help athletes stay sharp on hot turf.
Heat Stress and Motor Decline
Increased air temperature (>25°C) has a modulating effect on high-intensity activity in elite field hockey. A landmark study by James et al. (2022) analyzed 71 international matches and found:
High-speed running declined by 14–17% in HOT and VHOT conditions
Sprint efforts and decelerations dropped by 12–17%
Average speed fell by 5–6%, especially in the second half
Fourth-quarter output was significantly lower in HOT vs COOL matches
Interestingly, total distance covered remained stable, suggesting players unconsciously recalibrate pacing to preserve output. This has implications for substitution timing, tactical rotations, and recovery planning.
Cognitive Function Playing with Heat and Dehydration
Heat stress doesn’t just affect the legs — it clouds the mind. A controlled study at Nottingham Trent University (ISRCTN95800060) found that:
Cognitive function declined significantly after hockey-specific exercise in heat
Dehydration amplified impairments, especially in decision-making and reaction time
Rectal temperature and perceived exertion rose sharply in dehydrated trials
For Masters athletes, who may already experience autonomic imbalance and slower thermoregulation, the risks are magnified. Reduced skin blood flow and delayed sweating onset impair heat dissipation, while slower cardiovascular recovery increases strain (Wijekulasuriya, 2022).
I have seen profound idiocy at play at National Masters championships where 60+ year olds are playing in 32 degree atmospheric heat on artificial turfs. The body of evidence investigating artfificial vs natural turf surface, ambient and radiant temperatures is in a nascent state but will evolve quickly given climate change. By and large, surface temperatures on the artificial surface tend to be higher ( many variables to consider including the turf structure and base ) as does skin temperature of players and their sweating rate. So why the fuck would you place at risk individuals at greater risk of catastrophic health outcomes given the organisers of masters hockey do zero to little more than zero health screening?
Lessons from Broader Exercise Science
Heat adaptation has been extensively studied in endurance and team sports. Sawka et al. (2016) and Périard et al. (2015) show that 7–14 days of daily heat exposure (~90 min) leads to:
Lower heart rate and core temperature during exertion
Increased sweat rate and plasma volume
Improved aerobic capacity and reduced risk of heat illness
These adaptations are specific to the expected competition environment and decay within 2–3 weeks without maintenance. For Masters athletes, longer exposure and slower progression may be needed to achieve similar benefits (Wijekulasuriya, 2022). This means an extended preparation time in matching or near mathcing conditions.Gibson et al. (2020) distinguishes between:
Chronic protocols: heat acclimation, hot water immersion, sauna use
Acute strategies: pre-cooling (ice vests, cold drinks), mid-match cooling, hydration breaks
Hockey can benefit from employing hybrid protocols mixing and matching interventions from each, especially in tournaments with limited recovery windows.
Health Advisory for Masters Athletes with Pre-Existing Conditions
Here we are (again) doing the work of hockey associations and their operatives. FFS!
Masters athletes with cardiovascular disease, circulatory disorders, or autonomic dysfunction must approach heat and cold protocols with caution.
Heat Stress Risks
According to the CDC (2024) and American Heart Association (2025):
Heat stress increases cardiac workload, dehydration risk, and electrolyte imbalance
It can precipitate arrhythmias, myocardial infarction, and stroke in vulnerable individuals
Medications like beta blockers, diuretics, and ACE inhibitors may impair heat tolerance and sweating
Athletes with CVD should:
Monitor HRV and blood pressure before and after exposure
Avoid peak heat hours (12–3 p.m.)
Consult physicians before engaging in heat acclimation or high-intensity play
Cold Immersion Risks
Cold-water immersion (CWI) is widely used for recovery, but poses risks for those with heart conditions. Studies by Cain et al. (2025) and Plutzky (2022) highlight:
Cold shock response: rapid increase in heart rate and blood pressure
Risk of involuntary gasping, arrhythmia, and hypothermia
Elevated troponin levels in winter swimmers suggest potential heart muscle strain
Recommendations
Avoid CWI below 15°C without medical clearance Use gradual exposure (cool showers, short immersions) to build tolerance
Never perform cold immersion alone; ensure supervision and rewarming protocols
Tactical Implications of Heat Stress
Heat alters not just physiology, but tactical behaviour. Under thermal strain, players often:
Avoid high‑risk sprints and aggressive presses due to elevated cardiovascular and thermoregulatory load (Kang, Chen, & Liu, 2024; Racinais et al., 2015).
Delay transitions and favour possession‑based play to manage metabolic cost (Périard, Racinais, & Sawka, 2015).
Exhibit reduced spatial awareness and slower decision loops as core temperature rises beyond ~38.5 °C (Schmit, Hausswirth, Le Meur, & Duffield, 2017).
As your stat sheets and video anaylses will show a lot more unforced errors and turnovers.
Coaching adaptations include:
Modifying formations to reduce repeated sprint demands (Kang et al., 2024). Half court presses and setting low blocks become sensible as does throwing overheads.
Using rolling substitutions to preserve cognitive sharpness (Donnan, Williams, & Bargh, 2023). Throw out pre-set rotation schedules as they will become millstones and not mantras in hot conditions.
Implementing heat‑aware match plans, including hydration breaks and tempo shifts (Racinais et al., 2015).Ensure cold water and ice as needed and check all players have adequate electrolyte intake and recovery nutrition.
Operationalising Heat ResilienceHeat Acclimation Protocol (Pre‑Tournament)
Duration: 10–14 days for 35-45 years 21-28 days for 50+
Method: Daily aerobic sessions in heat, or sauna/hot‑water immersion post‑training (Racinais, Sawka, Daanen, & Périard, 2019).
Progression: Gradual increase in intensity and exposure time.
Monitoring: HRV, core temperature, RPE (Sunderland, Marwood, & Nevill, 2008).
Acute Cooling Strategy (Match Day)
Pre‑match: Ice slurry ingestion; cooling vest during warm‑up (Tyler, 2011).
Mid‑match: Cold towels, shade tents, hydration breaks (Racinais et al., 2015).
Post‑match: Cold‑water immersion (10–15 °C, 10–15 min), electrolyte‑rich fluids (Périard et al., 2015).
Hydration Planning
Pre‑match: 6–8 mL/kg 2 h prior (Burke, 2019).
During: 150–250 mL every 15–20 min (Burke, 2019).
Post: Sodium‑based fluids + recovery meals (Burke, 2019).
Cognitive Preservation
Mindfulness and breathwork pre‑match to reduce sympathetic drive (Donnan et al., 2023).
Tactical walkthroughs instead of high‑load warm‑ups in extreme heat (Schmit et al., 2017).
HRV tracking to detect autonomic strain (Périard et al., 2015).
Bibliography
American Heart Association (AHA). (2025). When the heat rises, so do heart risks: What you need to know.
Burke, L. M. (2019). Hydration in sport and exercise. In J. D. Périard & S. Racinais (Eds.), Heat stress in sport and exercise: Thermophysiology of health and performance (pp. 113‑137). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-93515-7_7
Cain, T., et al. (2025). Cardiovascular responses to cold immersion in older athletes: A safety review. PLOS ONE, 20(1), e0317615. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0317615
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2024). Clinical overview: Heat and cardiovascular disease.
Donnan, K. J., Williams, E. L., & Bargh, M. J. (2023). The effectiveness of heat preparation and alleviation strategies for cognitive performance: A systematic review. Temperature, 10(4), 404‑433. https://doi.org/10.1080/23328940.2022.2157645
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Hockey Performance Academy. (2023). Tips for playing field hockey in the heat. https://hockeyperformanceacademy.com/tips-for-playing-field-hockey-in-the-heat/
ISRCTN95800060. (2019). The effects of exercise in the heat and hydration status on cognitive function. Nottingham Trent University. https://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN95800060
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Plutzky, J. (2022). Cold water immersion and heart health: What older athletes need to know. American Heart Association News. https://newsroom.heart.org/news/cold-water-immersion-and-heart-health
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